A man who strangled a woman and attacked a man with a pitchfork has been jailed.

Oliver Pinney of Tupman Close, Rochester was sentenced to more than three years in jail following the two separate incidents.

The 26-year-old escorted the woman, who is known to him, back to his home address following a night of socialising in Rochester on January 30, 2021.

A dispute took place inside the house, during which Pinney pinned the victim to the floor and strangled her with such force it caused bruising to her neck.

She eventually managed to break free and was able to run to a nearby home for help. But Pinney was found and detained within 15 minutes and has been held on remand since.

PC Scott Kitchener, Kent Police’s investigating officer for the assault, said: "Pinney has shown himself to be an exceptionally violent, dangerous and callous offender.

"He subjected the victim to a horrifying ordeal, during which she would have had every reason to believe her life was in grave danger.

"Such offending is intolerable, and we will always seek to take the most robust and proportionate action against any perpetrator.

"I am pleased that the courts have now imposed a custodial sentence and I hope the victim can feel a sense of justice."

Pinney admitted to assault by beating at Maidstone Crown Court and was sentenced to three years and two months’ imprisonment on Wednesday, November 10.

He also received a concurrent two-year sentence for a separate count of grievous bodily harm which was committed in Strood in August 2019.

In the moments leading up to the assault, Pinney became involved in a disturbance with an associate of the male victim.

The man attempted to break up the dispute by chasing Pinney away from the scene, and was attacked with a pitchfork a short time later.

The man sustained a serious facial injury after being hit in the head with the weapon.

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